A training course is being held in the City of Nampula between the 8th and 10th of August 2023 for Environmental Technicians, namely the Provincial Service for the Environment (SPA), the Provincial Directorate for Territorial Development and the Environment (DPDTA) and the Provincial Delegation of the Agency for National Control of Environmental Quality (DPAQUA) of the northern region of the country (Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Niassa) and Zambézia, on the importance of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for land use planning, spatial planning and environmental impact assessment and use of the Environmental Licensing Management Platform (SGLA).
The National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) in coordination with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), through the project “Mainstreaming Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), piloting Blue Carbon, and Strengthening Coral Reef Fisheries in Mozambique“, and the United Nations Environmental Program - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), through the “Oil for Development” program, promoted this training with the main objective of strengthening the capacity of the northern region of the country (including Zambézia). The training will facilitate the integration of KBAs into the ecological network at provincial and district level. This will ensure that they are part of provincial/district spatial plans for land use planning. Additionally, it will enable further appreciation of the main components of decision-making in the issuance of environmental licenses, monitoring of land use practices and application of the laws/regulations necessary for license maintenance. Ultimately, it will support transparency in public management processes.
In this event, 37 participants are present, discussing topics about (i) the definition of KBAs, their design and their role in biodiversity conservation, (ii) existing KBAs in the northern region of Mozambique (including Zambézia) and their legal framework, (iii) other tools (e.g. Red Lists of species and ecosystems, map of ecosystems) and platforms (e.g. Biodiversity Portal - SIBMOZ) for identifying areas to be avoided by development projects, as well as, (iv) the role of the Directorates and Provincial Environmental Services in the monitoring and protection of KBAs, and the (v) use of the Environmental Licensing Management Platform (SGLA).